Platen printing press



1 May 4, 19,37. L, R. JOHNSON ET AL 2,079,172

PLATEN PRINTING PRESS Filed Feb. 28, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l 35 INVENTOR5 L awrerzce \Jb/171GO 6 ATTORNEYJ y 1937. I L. R. JOHNSON ET AL 2,079,172

PLATEN PRINTING PRESS Filed Feb. 28, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYJ,

Patented May 4, 1937 PATENT OFFICE 2,079,172 PLATEN PRINTING PRESS Lawrence R. Johnson and Alexander Black, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors Ohi to The Chandler & Price Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Application February 28, 1934, Serial No. 713,290

14 Claims.

This invention relates, as indicated, to platen printing presses, but has reference more particularly to mechanism for reversing the direction and varying the extent of each rotative movement of the ink disks of such presses.

For the purpose of supplying ink to the form contacting rollers of platen type printing presses, such presses are usually provided with a disk which receives the ink from a fountain or similar device and is intermittently rotated in response to the oscillative movement of the form-carrying bed, the object of such rotation being to insure a uniform distribution of the ink to the rollers.

The direction of rotation of the ink disk, as viewed from the front of the press is usually clockwise and the extent of each rotative movement of the disk is generally fixed.

It has been the general observation of those skilled in the use of platen presses that when the direction of rotation of the ink disk is clockwise as stated, a larger proportion of the total ink supply accumulates at the right side of the disk than at the left side, the terms .right and "left being employed here with reference to the disk as viewed by an observer standing in front of the press and facing'the form carried by the oscillating bed. Consequently, it is the usual practice for the type and/or form setter to build up the right side of the form more heavily than the left side so as to utilize the ink most efficiently.

It is frequently desired or necessary, however,

to build up the left side of the form more heavily than the right, as in certain types of color work, or to build up the form more or less uniformly. Moreover, it is desirable at times to vary the extent of each rotative movement of the ink disk, as this has also been found to produce a desired variation in the manner in which the ink is distributed to the form rollers and form. The present invention accordingly has as its primary object the provision of means for controlling the manner. in which the ink is distributed to the ink disk, form-contacting rollers and form of platen type presses.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention maybe used.

In said annexed drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a platen type printing press having embodied therein mechanism for reversing the direction of rotation of the ink disk as Well as means for varying the extent of each rotative movement of the disk; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the portion of the press shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a slightly different form of means for varying the extent of each rotative movement of the disk; Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the press shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 3, but showing a different type of ink-disk reversing mechanism; Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the press shown in Fig. 5; and Figs. 7 to '11 inclusive are views of another modified form of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a printing press of the Gordon orplaten type, comprising a platen l and a bed 2, which carries the form 3 and is suitably oscillated with respect to the supporting frame (not shown) of the press, as by means of a crank-rod 4 connected to a back-shaft 5 journalled in the rearwardly extending arms 6 of the bed.

Mounted on the arms 6 of the bed is an inverted U-shaped bracket 1, upon which is rotatably supported the ink-disk 8, which is adapted to receive ink from a fountain or similar device (not shown) and transfer the same to rollers (not shown) carried by oscillatory frame members 9 and I0, therollers in turn distributing the ink to the form 3. Oscillation of the roller-carrying frame members 9 and HE is effected by a link or pitman II.

The ink-disk 8 is provided with a rearwardly extending stud-shaft I2, to Which is affixed a bevel-gear I3, whereby the disk may be rotated as by means of a bevel gear I4. Gear it is mounted on a sleeve I5 which has mounted on its opposite end a bevel gear I 6. The sleeve i5 is mounted on a shaft I l and may be moved along this shaft so as to bring one or the otherof the bevel gears l4 and I6 into mesh with gear l3, a set-screw l8 being provided to lock the sleeve to the shaft I! after the desired engagement or meshing of gears has been effected. The shaft i1 is journalled in the arms of the bracket 7 and is provided at one end with a clutch N, which may be in the form of a silent friction clutch, operable bya lever 20 or the like. Intermittent rotation of shaft I! is effected by means of a cam 2|, which is aflixed to frame member Ill and engages a roller 22 mounted on a carrier 23, which is secured to the lever 20, as by means of a setscrew 24. Upon rotation of the frame members 9 and ID in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, the cam 2| will elevate the roller 22 and thereby rotate the shaft II.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that the ink-disk 8 may be rotated in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, depending upon whether the gear I4 or gear I6 is brought into engagement with the gear I3, and that either side of the disk may, in this manner, be provided with the larger supply of ink. When the gear I4 is in mesh with gear I3, as shown in Fig. 2, the right side of the disk, as viewed from the front of the press, will accumulate the larger proportion of the ink supply, whereas, when the gear I6 is in mesh with the gear I3, the left side of the disk will accumulate the larger amount of ink. It will also be obvious that if .the sleeve I5 is shifted and locked to the shaft H in such a manner that neither of the gears I4 or I6 is in mesh with gear I3, the disk will remain stationary, and the ink will be carried directly to the form. Furthermore, by shifting the position of the roller-carrier 23 along the lever '29, the extent of each rotative movement of the ink-disk, or rather the length of the arc through which the disk will rotate upon each oscillation of the cam 2I, may be varied within predetermined limits. If the roller 22 is shifted so as to rest on the forward portion 2 Ia of the cam 2i, the lever 26 will not be oscillated, and consequently the disk 9 will remain stationary, even with the gears I4 or I6 in mesh with the gear I3. 1

In that form of the invention shown in Figs, 3 and 4 intermittent rotation of the shaft I1 is effected by the sam 2 I which engages a roller '25 mounted on one end of an arcuate lever 26, the opposite end of which is pivotally mounted as at 21 on one of the arms of bracket 7. The lever 26 is provided with an arcuate slot 28 so as to provide an adjustable connection for one end of a clutch-operating lever 29, a nut 39 being provided to secure the lever 29 in adjusted position. The aforesaid adjustment provides a means of varying the extent of each rotative movement of the. disk 8. If the lever 29 is so adjusted as to connect with lever 26 at a point substantially coinciding with the center of the pivotal mounting 21, the lever 29, and consequently, the disk 8 will remain stationary. This provides a method of maintaining the ink disk stationary without disturbing the meshing of gears I4 or I6 with gear I3. It will also be noted that roller 25 always bears on the same portion of cam 2|, so that the impulse exerted to rotate the disk 8 always has the same characteristics, varying only in degree, as lever 29 is moved in slot 28. This is not true of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the roller 22 may operate on different portions of the cam.

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the stub shaft which extends from the ink disk 8 has mounted thereon a friction disk 3|, which is slidable towards and away from the disk 8, but is normally urged away from the disk 8 and against a roller 32 by means of a coil spring 33, mounted on the stub shaft between the bracket I and disk 3|. The roller 32 is preferably made of rubber or the like and is splined on, but adjustable to any desired position along the shaft I'I. When the roller is in one or the other of the dotted lines positions indicated in Fig. 6, the-disk 8 will be rotated in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction as the case may be,

but when the roller is in a central position, as

shown in dotted lines, the disk will remain stationary. By adjusting the rollers to various positions intermediate the center and extreme positions, the extent of each rotative movement of the disk 8 may obviously be varied. Rotations of the shaft I! may be effected by a clutch 34 similar to clutch I9 of Fig. 1, and operable through the intermediary of cam 35, roller 36, and lever 31.

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. '7 .to ll inclusive, a single beveled gear 40 is mounted on the shaft I1 and is always in mesh with gear I 3. Shaft -I I has rigidly secured thereon adjacent one end a pair of ratchets M and 42, the teeth of one of the ratchets being oppositely directed with respect to those of the other ratchet, so that the disk 8 may be driven in either direction, depending on which ratchet is being driven. The shaft "I'I has also pivotally mounted thereon at a point beyond the ratchet a lever 43, which is provided at its free end with a pin or shaft 44 upon which is pivotally mounted a member comprising pawls 45 and 46. Pawl 46 is normally maintained in driving engagement with ratchet 42 as by means of a spring 41 mounted on lever 43 and extending into a recess 48 in the pawl-carrying member. In order to drive the ratchet 42, the. lever 43 is oscillated as by means of a second lever 49, which, as shown in Figs. '7 and 9, is actuated by a lever 50. Lever 59 is pivoted, as at 5|, to the arm 6 of the bed and is provided at one end with a roller 5I. Oscillation of the. lever 50 is efiected by the. cam 52, as in the other forms of the invention.

When it is desired to reverse the direction of rotation of the disk 8, the connection between levers 49 and 43 is loosened, andthe. levers moved to the respective positions shown in Fig. 8. The lever 49 has an elongated slot 53 in one end to accommodate movement of the parts during the aforesaid adjustment. Pawl 45 is then moved into engagement with the ratchet 4|, and is maintained in engagement with the latter by means of the spring '41, which then extends into recess 54 in the pawl-carrying member.

The extent of each rotative movement of the disk '8 may be varied by means consisting of a disk or plate 55 which is mounted on the shaft II between the bracket I and ratchet M and is adjustable circumferentially of the shaft. For this purpose the plate 55 is provided with an extension 56 having an arcuate slot 51, through which a bolt 58 which extends from bracket I, passes. After the desired adjustment has been made, the plate is clamped to the bracket as by means of a wing nut 59. The plate 55 is provided with an arcuate flange 69, which extends over both ratchets 4| and 42 and covers approximately half the teeth of each ratchet. The flange forms a shroud for the ratchet teeth, upon which shroud the pawls 45 or 46 slide in their return movement during each oscillation of the lever 43. .It will be apparent from Fig. that by adjusting the position of the shroud, the number of ratchet teeth exposed to actuation by the pawls may be varied so as to vary the extent of each rotative movement of the disk 8.

It is thus seen that each form of the invention which has been described embodies not only means for changing the direction of rotation of the ink disk, but the extent of each rotative movement as well. It is also seen that the adjustments for accomplishing these ends are effected manually and are therefore at all times within the control of the operator.

Other modes of applying the principle of our invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:-

1. In a platen printing press, the combination with the ink disk of means for rotating said disk in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, and means for changing at will the direction of rotation of said disk. i

2. In a platen printing press, the combination with the ink disk of means for rotating said disk continually in either direction, and means for changing at will and at any desired point in the rotation of said disk the direction of rotation of the disk.

3. In a platen printing press, the combination with the ink disk of means for varying the extent of each rotative movement of said disk, means for rotating said disk in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, and means for changing at will the direction of rotation of said disk 4. In a platen printing press, the combination with the ink disk of means for varying the extent of each rotative movement of said disk, means for rotating said disk in either direction, and means for changing at will and-at any desired point in the rotation of said disk the direction of rotation of the disk.

5. In a platen printing press, the combination with the ink disk of means for varying the ex tent of each rotative movement of said disk and manually-controlled means for selectively rotating the disk in either direction.

6. In a platen printing press, the combination with the ink disk of manually-controlled means for varying the extent of each rotative movement of said disk and manually-controlled means for changing the direction of rotation of said disk.

7. In a platen printing press, the combination with the ink disk of means for changing the direction of rotation of said disk, said means including a gear rotatable with said disk and a pair of gears, each of which is selectively movable into engagement with said first-named gears.

8. In a platen printing press, the combination with an ink disk requiring a greater accumulation of ink on one side of its ink-receiving surface than on the other side thereof, of means for rotating said disk in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction according to whether such accumulation is desired on the right or left side respectively of said ink-receiving surface, said directions and sides being considered with reference to the ink-receiving surface of the disk as viewed by an observer facing said surface, said means comprising a gear rotatable about the same axis as said disc and a pair of driving gears for said first-named gear, each of said driving gears being selectively movable into engagement with said first-named gear.

9. In a platen printing press, the combination with the ink disk of said press of means for rotating said disk in either direction, said means including a gear rotatable about the same axis as said disk, a shaft rotatable about an axis at an angle to the axis of rotation of said gear, and a sleeve mounted on said shaft, said sleeve provided with a pair of spaced gears, one of which is movable into engagement with said firstnamed gear to rotate the disk in one direction and the other of which is movable into engagement with the first-named gear to move the disk in the opposite direction.

10. In a platen printing press, the combination with the ink disk of said press of means for rotating said disk in either direction, said means including a friction disk spaced from and rotatable about the same axis as said ink disk, a shaft rotatable about an axis at an angle to the axis of rotation of said friction disk, and a roller mounted on said shaft and movable therealong, said roller being in frictional driving engagement with said friction disk.

11. In a platen printing press, the combination with the ink disk of said press of means for varying the extent of each rotative movement of said disk, said means including a clutch, a clutch operating lever and a cam-operated roller, said roller being adjustably mounted on said lever.

12. In a platen printing press, the combination with the ink disk of said press of means for varying the extent of each rotative movement of said I disk, said means including a clutch, a pair of connected levers for operating said clutch, and means for varying the point of connection of said levers.

13. In a platen printing press, the combination with the ink disk of said press of means for varying the extent of each rotative movement of said disk, said means including a friction disk adapted to drive the ink disk and a roller in driving engagement with said friction disk and movable to any desired position along the radius of said friction disk. I

14. In a platen printing press, the combination with the ink disk of said press of means for rotating said disk in either direction, said means including a pair of ratchets having oppositely directed teeth, pawls for said ratchets, and a shroud member for varying the number of teeth exposed to actuation by the pawls.

LAWRENCE R. JOHNSON. ALEXANDER BLACK. 

